Device for determining the depth of liquids



May 24, 1949. EBY 2,471,026

DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE DEPTH OF LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 27, 1945 3 SheetsSheet 1 SWIVEL II I INVENTOR IVA/v D. Ear

' BY 21M;

ATTO R N EY CoMPPsssEo Alg L/dE Revue/N VAL v57 QA GE Ma 24, 1949. 1, D, E Y 2,471,026

DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE DEPTH 0F LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 2'7, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR J'w/v 0. Ear

May24, 1949. l. D, EBY 2,471,026

DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE DEPTH OF LIQUIDS Tij.&.

INVENTOR [FAA/0, 53y

QYZZUUK A TTOR N EY Patented May 24, 1949 DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE DEPTH OF LIQUIDS Ivan D. Eby, New York, N. Y.

Application September 2'7, 1945, Serial No. 618,880

'1 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to devices for determining the depth of liquids, and is more particularly directed toward devices for these purposes and adapted for use on shipboard.

On shipboard liquids :zre carried in tanks as cargo or as ships fuel, water is used as ballast, and water and leakage is or may be present in the bilges. It is important at all times to have an accurate record of the depth of the liquid in each and every tank and in each bilge at regular intervals and to be able to ascertain at any time the depth in any particular tank or bilge, and proper records require the making of daily log entries of the soundings. The tanks and bilges are provided with pipes leading to the deck surface or to some other accessible part of the ship, and it has been the practice to make direct measurements by soundin rods lowered into these pipes. Some of these pipes open above deck in locations where they cannot be opened in stormy weather; and the sounding of these lines had to be omitted or postponed until weather conditions made sounding possible. The time required for such determinations was considerable, and, owing to the distance which had to be covered, the quick determination of conditions at remote location was impossible.

The determination of the draft of a ship when away from the dock or riding at anchor is sometimes of great importance, but very difiicult as it is impossible to make satisfactory observations of the draft markings, The usual procedure, when the vessel is not alongside a dock, is to take the readings of the draft marks fore and aft from a boat.

The present invention c ntemplates the equ pment of the ship with apparatus whereby all the tanks used for storage of fuel. cargo or ballast, and all bilg s may be sounded from a centrally located sta on on board the ship at any time and. under substantially any and all conditions which arise on shipboard. and. it further contemplates that the system shall include, wherever desired, means for determining the draft of the ship fore and aft.

In carrying out the resent invention a source of compressed air is employed and by means of a system of piping. valves, pr ssure gauges, and the like, the air is caused to bubble out under the end of submerged pipe in the tank or bilge to be measured, and the pressure of air is brought to that necessary to maintain such bubbling. This pressure determi: ion is then available to deteri ins o the liquid. The measuring apparatus m located in the upper engine room or place convenient for. the ships ofiicers, the measurements entered in the ships log.

While the apparatus is more particularly suitable for use on shipboard, it is also possible to apply the same in other locations where the sounding or many tanks is necessary, as in many manufacturing and liquid storing operations.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, several embodiments in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are. i llustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same. I

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustratin an installation on shipboard;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through a simple form of depth measuring device designed for use with fluids of the same gravity;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a device for use in gauging depths of fluids of two different gravities;

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views on the-line l-t and 5-5 of Figure 3; t

Figure 6 is a sectional view through a form of instrument suitable for measuring depths of fluids of widely varying gravities and showing diagrammatically a piping system associated directly-with the instrument; I

Figure 7 is a tabulation applying to the ar rangement shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 6 illustrating the instrument of Figure 6 arranged for use where the tanks being gauged are under other than atmospheric pressure; and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a piping arrangement for use in determining the depths of immiscible liquids in a closed container.

Where the device is to be used on shipboard it is connected into the compressed air line usually available there, The pressure of the air is reduced by reducing valve iii to a pressure indicated by gauge II and it is then passedthrough an orifice l2 which regulates the release of the low pressure air and throttles it to a lower pressure. The air then passes through a manifold M where it is distributed through pipes I3 to various tanks I5-l5, bilges Iii-l5 and the like where depth measurements are to be taken. Only one valve IT in the manifold is opened at a time so that the air can only go out through one pipe. As the air escapes in the form of bubbles below the surface of the liquid in the tank or bilge, its pressure is brought to an amount which equals the hydrostatic pressure at the depth of immersion of the opening in the pipe. The pressure required for any depth of immersion is, of course, a function of the specific gravity of the liquid.

Between the orifice l2 and the valve I! of the manifold, the piping system is provided with a T 3 providing a lateral outlet to a hose I9 which leads up to the measuring instrument indicated generally at S. This instrument may conveniently employ much of the mechanism of a weighing scale mounted in such a way as to be plumb or level (according to the type of scale employed) so that it will keep the proper position irrespective of the rolling. and. pitching; of the ship. A butcher's type scale is conveniently hung from swivel links 20, while a scale with a horizontal dial (such as a bathroom scale) is readily mounted on gimbals. The usual Weighing mechanism of the scale may be used without change except that the dial usually graduated to show weight, is replaced by a dial graduated to read depths. The load supporting rod 2| extends below the scale frame 22 as usual but does not carry apan or platform to receive articles to be weighed. The scale frame 22 supports a force applying device indicated generally by the letter F, various forms of which are shown in' the drawings.

In the simple form of mechanism indicated diagrammatically in Figure 1 and detailed in Figure 2, the force applying mechanism includes a frame 23 suitablysecured to the bottom of the scale frame. The frame 23 has a dependent skirtlike' portion 24 forming a cylinder 25 which is adapted to receive a piston 26. The cylinder is co-axial with the load supporting rod 2|. The piston 26 is connected to a rod 21 which extends up through an opening 28 in the Wall 29 forming the top of the cylinder; The rods '21 and 2| are interconnected by a universal coupling 38, The piston and piston rod are fitted into the frame 23 with a clearance of about .001 so as to move very freely. It is not necessary that they form a; tight seali It is merely necessary to hinder the escape of air. They may be grooved as indicated in the drawings. The'upper part of the cylinder is provided with two openings. One is a vent and drain normally closed by a valve 3|, while the other'is'connected by a pipe 32 to a valve 33. A hose: 34 extends from the valve 33 up near the mounting 2'0 and is connected with the hose l9.

The effective area of the piston, i. e. its total area less; the area occupied by the connecting rod 21, is determined in accordance with the specific gravity of the liquid whose depth measurement is desired and is correlated with the dial graduati'ons so that the air pressure which exists on top of thepiston when bubbles pass out under the surface of the liquid, will be suiiicient to actuate the scale mechanism to bring the pointer to the position on the dial having a graduation corresponding with the actual" depth ofthe liquid in the container. Such an instrument iswell adapted f'or'measuring the depths of water in-bilges'or the draft of the ship; or a similar instrument With=eitherthe same size piston and different dial calibration, or one with thesarne dial calibration and piston of different area" could be used to sound the-depths of tanks carrying oilof. uniform gravity. The amount" of movement necessary to achieve a full dial readingis very smalLa movement in theorderof 'bein sufficient when a well known form of weighing scale is used in the device.

The arrangement shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 is'one designed'for measuring the depth of'bilge water, ships draft, and the like where suchwater is one liquid whose depth is desired, and for measuring the depth of oil. in tanks where allthe oil is of approximately the. same gravity. Here the. frame of'theforce applying mechanism.- includes an: adapter 40 secured tov the scale-frame 22;.an. upper cylinder. 4!: secured. to. the adapter by" bolts. 42'} a coupling. 33. secured. to the. cylinder by bolts 44 and a lower. air. chest 45 secured. to the coupling, 43. by. bolts. 46.. The load. supporting rodiil ofthe. scale carries theauniversal. coupling 30 as above described, The universal coupling carries a shaft 41 extending down through a guide.. block. and gland- 48.- with a clearance of about .0005 and through an oversize hole 49' in the upper wall 49 of the upper cylinder 4!. The rod 41 is provided with a flange 50 secured to a piston 5| by cap bolts 52. This piston is received in: a sleeve 53 carried in the cylinder.

The piston 51 is provided with a tubular extension 54. through which the lower end 55 of the rod 47' extends. This extension forms a small diameter piston 5 and is carried in a cylinder 56 fitted in the coupling member 43. The lower air chest which is carried by the coupling 43 supports a guide block or gland 51 with similar clearance by means'of unlike bolts 58, and these bolts also" c'arrya plate 59 having a non-circular hole- 59' through which the non-circular portion 6% of the rod passes to prevent turning of the assemblage carried by the rod. The pistons and cylinders are carefully machined to have a clearance of about .001" and the shaft 1-? carefully centered so that this clearance is maintained. The pistons are as f'reet'o move as the scale pan of theordinary weighing scale. A threaded hole 5! is provided to facilitate adding a" weight for calibrating thescale.

The upper cylinder M is provided with a number of tapped openings GI. One of these openings'isconne'cted by a pipe-62 with the air supply in the same way as described in connection with Figures 1" and 2. Another opening is connected by piping indicated at F53 and three way valve 64 withanother' pipe 65 which leads into the lower air chest-i5. The unused openings 61. are plugged as indicated at 66' and the air chest 45 has a plugged opening indicated at 6T.

When the handle 68 of the three Way valve is the position indicated in the drawings. the upper'a'ndlowercylinders are connected together. Vi/henit' isturned tothe dotted line position the lower cylinder is disconnected from the upper cylinder and vented.

With the arrangement shown in Figures 3, 4

I and 5; the effective area of the upper piston and the gra'd'uati'ons on the dial are calculated so that the dialreadings will indicate correctly the depth-of'a liquid lighter than water, for example, an oil of a certain gravity which the ship is carrying in its tanks. When the cylinders are interconnected the force developed against the lower piston is algebraically added to that developed against the upper piston and one obtains this load on the rod 41. The area of piston 5d is such: that the scale reading is proper for a heavier gravity liquid, for example, salt water. Thuson'e' can'use' the same apparatus for gauging the depthof oiltan'ks, or of bilges which contain saltwater; If the apparatus were to be used in ships operating only in fresh water, a correspondirrg change would be made in the size of the lower'pistcn. It is also, of course, obvious that the upper piston could be arranged to give proper readings for fresh water depths while the lower piston was arranged to take care of the difference between" the specific gravity of fresh and salt water.

In: the arrangement shown in Figure 6, the adapter Hi carries a body member H, having two cylindrical: bores Ha, H15 to receive pistons A andB. It supports a second body member 12 having three cylindrical bores 12c, 12d and like to receive pistons C, D and E. The member 12 carries-alcwer member 13'' having two bores 113i and lea-to receive pistons Fand G. The pistons are all coupled together and supported from a stem or rod 74 passing through a guide block or gland i l and connected to the scale attachment as will be obvious from the drawing and prevented from turning by a stud T2 entering hole H. The stationary elements are all bolted together and supported from the scale frame. The stem or rod 75a below the lower piston passes through a guide block or gland Mb.

The cylinder above piston A has an air inlet 15 and below the cylinder B it is provided with a breather 15'. The castings forming the parts H, 12 and 13 are provided with suitably tapped openings l6 here indicated on the right hand side of the figure. Each of these tapped openings is connected to a pipe, these pipes being indicated by the letters A, B, C, D, E, F and G, respectively. The pipe A is connected to three Way valves 11b, 11c, Tld, file, Elf and Hg, one for each of the other pipes and these valves may be manipulated so as to interconnect the corresponding cylinders in various manners so that different effective piston areas are subjected to the same air pressure as piston A.

Pistons A and B are strain pistons putting load directly on the scale mechanism. They are calculated to provide the proper scale reading for two selected gravities, for example A. P. I. gravity 22 for piston A and A. P. I. gravity 40 for piston B. All the other pistons are opposing pistons. When the valves 'i'lb to g inclusive are all closed, the air pressure received through pipe H is received only by piston A and all the other pistons work freely because of the venting effect by the three way valves when in this position and under these conditions the apparatus will properly read depths for oil of 22 gravity. If valve lib is left closed and one or more of the other valves opened, one can have available the proper opposed piston area to correspond with other selected gravities, for example, gravities of 19 with one opposed piston operating, 16 with two such pistons operating. 13 with three such pistons operating, (water) with four pistons operating and 7 with all live pistons operating. When valve 'i'lb is opened strain piston B becomes efiective in the same direction as piston A. When valves We to o, inclusive, are successively closed, one can adjust for gravity 25 to gravity 40. In this manner the same instrument can be used to measure the depths of liquids from gravity '7 to gravity 40 with a satisfactory degree of accuracy for the purpose. Figure 7 illustrates a key to these operations. Of course, one can omit oi the pistons and corresponding cylinders which correspond with gravities of liquids for which measurements are not desired and more or less pistons may be employed depending upon the particular uses of the apparatus.

While the present apparatus will usually be used in positions where the tanks or containers of liquids are open to the atmosphere, there are instances in which it is desirable to sound the depth of liquids in tanks which are not open to the atmosphere. Such tanks may be maintained under vacuum or under some super-atmospheric pressure and gases other than air may be employed. In such instances the soundin system will be connected into the piping system so that the same gas will be employed which is over the liquid surfaces and instead of allowing the gas which bubbles up through the liquid to escape, it is piped back into the system and the pistons which are ordinarily open to atmospheric pressure are interconnected to one another and to the system so that they are at the now normal gas pressure employed in the system.

Figure 8 illustrates a sounding apparatus for such a system using compressed air over the liquid in the tanks. It shows the same apparatus which is illustrated in detail in Figure 6 and on this figure is superimposed a piping system shown in heavy lines and indicated by the reference character 8%, which connects all the valves Tlb to l'l'g to the breather opening and through a manifold M to the tops of the tanks under pressure.

Figure 9 indicates the use of the device for determining the proportions of two immiscible liquids such as oil and water in a tank. In certain cases it is necessary to keep a tank full at all times, water being added as oil is withdrawn. Here the measuring apparatus is connected as before to a sounding pipe 99 which meters the tank 95. The depth of the tank is known and if full of oil and the piston is of the proper size for the oil, the dial reading will show the full depth of the tank. Should the tank be full of water instead of oil and the same piston used, the reading will be higher by a constant factor, again depending on the gravity. All readings for the full tank containing some water will be between the two figures, and the location of the surface of the water is readily indicated. From the constants of the tank the actual amount of oil remaining is readily determined.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of these forms, and various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for use in determining the depth of a liquid of known specific gravity in a remote container and employing a supply of inert gas at a pressure in excess of the total pressure in the liquid at the bottom of the container and means to direct the gas into the bottom of a liquid containing container for release in the form of bubbles so that its pressure equals the total pressure at the point of release, said device comprising a weighing mechanism having a scale graduated in depth of liquid, an indicator, the scale and indicator being relatively movable, a pendant load supporting rod connected to said movable part to actuate it, a tension rod connected to the load supporting rod, a frame fixedly carried by the scale and having an apertured top wall through which the tension rod extends and cylindrical walls concentric with the rods to form a downwardly opening cylinder, a substantially frictionless, substantially gas tight gland carried by the frame about the tension rod, a tension rod supported piston in the cylinder and forming a gas chamber, and a gas conduit connected to the gas directing means and to the side of the cylinder above the piston to supply gas to the chamber at the pressure of the gas directing means, the effective area of the piston being predetermined in accordance with the specific gravity of the liquid so that the scale reading indicates the depth of that liquid above the point of release of the bubbles.

2. A device as in claim 1, having a supplemental cylinder co-axial with the first and a supplemental piston in the supplemental cylinder connected to the first piston to move therewith, conduit means to interconnect the two cylinders s0 that the-same; qaressurewisrin each; the effective area of the second 'pistontbeing predetermined ini-accOrdance with-:rthe difference in specific gravity of a different;selected'rliquid,1the force develope'dson said :Esupplemental piston being algebrai'callycadded to that developed by the first piston 'so' that "the scale readingdndicates the depth'cof'the different'selected liquid, and means tdl disconnect the supplemental cylinder and ventltx 3. A device as in claimll, having a plurality of supplemental cylinders co-axial with the first and a supplemental piston in each supplemental cylinder. connected tto the first piston to move therewith, means" to interconnect a selected number; of .cylindersso that the same pressure is in each;the-effective area of the pistons in the connected cylinders being; predetermined in accordance with the difference in specific gravity of a difierent; selected liquid, the force developed on saith supplemental pistons being algebraically added-to that developed -by the first piston so thatithe scale reading indicates the depth of the difierent' selectedliquid, and means? to disconnectall the other-supplemental cylinders and vent them;

4. Adevi'ce'for'use'inidetermining the depth of anliqui'd :of' 'known specific gravity in a remote containerand employing .a supply of inert gas at a pressure'iniexcess of the total pressure in the liquid at the bottom of the" container and means to direct the gas into the bottom'of a liquid containing aconta'inerfor" release in the form of bubbles so that its pressure equals the total pressure at-the point of release, said device comprising a weighing-mechanismhaving a scale graduatedin depth ofz liquid an indicator, the scale and indicatorbeing relatively movable, a pendent load supporting rod connected to said'movable part'to actuate itya tension rodconnected to the load supporting rod,' a'frame fixedlycarried by the scale' and having an apertured top wall through'which the tension rod extends and cylindri'cal walls concentric with the'rods to form a downwardly opening cylinder, a substantially frictionless, substantially gas tight gland carried by the frame about the tension rod, a tension rod supported piston in the cylinder and forming a gas chamber, and a gas conduit connected to the gas directing means and to the side of the cylinder "above the piston to supply gas to the chamber rat the pressure of the gas directing means; the effective area of the piston being predetermined in accordance with the specific gravity of theliquid-so that the scale reading indicates the depth of that liquid above the point of release of the bubbles; and means to subject the other face of' the piston to the same pressure as exists on the' surface" of the liquid.

5. In a liquid depth determining apparatus in combination; a weighing mechanism having a frame, a downwardly extending weight support and cooperative indicator and scale graduated in dept'h 'ofliquid, one of said cooperative parts beingI'fiXed-the other movable and driven by the weightsupport, an adapter adapted to be secured to the bottomi of the frame and apertured to accommodate the 'Weight' support, a cylinder secured tothe bottom of the adapter, a piston in the cylinder, a piston rod extending through the top wall ofthe cylinder'for connection to the weightzsupport'so that the..-piston: may :be' super; ported from the-weight support, a substantially frictionless,substantially lair-tight :gland about: the piston rod, and 1a source-of .variable airpres-r sure connected into'the cylinder above the .pisa ton, a vent below the \piston, the effective area of thepiston being predetermined in accordance' with. the specific gravity of the liquid .whoseo depth is in question so that the scale reading in dicates the depth atxwhichair atrthe pressure existingin the cylinder, will escape-:through a submerged aperture;

6. A devicefor measuring the depth ofliquid of known gravity in 'a container with'a pressure:v on its surface other than atmosphericvpressurer comprising a weighingscale having a frame,a pointer movable over a dial which is calibrated to read depth and a pendent load =supporting.rod whose vertical movement is registered :by the, pointer, a downwardly opening cylinder secured: tothe scale frame, the cylinder being co-axiall with the rod, the rod extending into theicylinder, a piston in the cylinder and connected to the rod and having a free sliding fit in the cylinder means to subject the lower surface of the piston to the pressure existing on the surface of' the' liquid whose depth is being measured, the efie'c-' tive area of the piston being predeterminedin accordance with the specific-gravity of the liquid so that thescalereading due to an applied airpressure ontop of the cylinder correspondswith' the depth of the liquid at which air bubbles can be released.

'7 An attachment for weighing scales having a frame and a pendent load suspending rod-to convert it to a liquid depth measuring device, comprising a dial reading in depth, a scale supported body member having'a downwardly opening cylinder and a cylinder closing upper wall provided with a central aperture, and an air supply connection opening into the upper part of the cylinder, a piston freely slidable in the cylinder, the effective area of the piston being predetermined in accordance with the specific" gravity of the liquid, and a piston supporting. shaft extending through the aperture in: the top cylinder wall and'connectedwith the rod whereby the Weight of the piston and the apparent: load created thereon when air pressure is appliedto the upper surface thereof inrexcess of that applied to its lower surface when the latter pressure equals the pressure on the surface of the liquid whose depthis being measured, .where-w by'the scale reading due to air pressure applied to the top of the piston corresponds with the, depth of the liquid at which air bubbles can be released.

IVAN, DQEBY; 5

REFERENCES CITED The following'references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES l PATENTS Number Name Date 519,235 Carpenter May 1, 1894 1,100,867 Dexter June 23, 1914 1,579,415 Thomas Apr. 6, 1926 2,072,912 Heydekampf Mar. 9, 1937 2,345,464 De Giers Mar. 28, 1944 2,352,935 B'ohannan Ju1y-4, 1944 

